Load-binder



(No Model.)

J. H. JOHNSON. LOAD BINDER No. 448,862 Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

"Q/minnow (5. a, A J.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

LOAD-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 44=8,862,dated March 24, 1891.-

. Application filed Se tember 17, 1890. erlal No. 365,274. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH l-I. JOHNSON, of Bradford, in the county of McKean, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefullmprovements in Load-Binders, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the devices for tightening the girt or chain used in binding loads upon wagons or analogous purposes. My object is to produce such device which will take up the slack in the binding-chain and automatically hold the chain taut.

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the claims annexed. It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lever and grip mechanism detached. Fig. 2 .is a topplan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of the lever and grip as it appears in position just before the slack is taken up. Fig. 4: is a view of the same after the. chain has been tightened, showing the position the handle then occupies.

Similar letters and figures of reference indicate correspondings parts.

A is the lever, having a claw 1 in one end thereof, said end being bent down and outward at 2, as seen in Fig. 1. At a point inwardly from 2 1s rigidlysecured'downwardly andlaterally projecting arms 3, to the ends of which is loosely secured a clevis 4, as shown. To this clevis is secured by any ordiaary means a clawhook 5. At the end of the lever A opposite the end to which the clevis is attached is a guard 6, which serves the purpose of holding the lever, or that portion of it used as a handle, over the direct line of draft and directly over the chain. It will also be observed that a wooden handle can be attached to this end of the lever, if desired, to give it more leverage.

Bis the chain girtin g the load orbulk sought to be bound. This chain is first made fast by hand and then the claw-hook 6 is placed upon its chain at any desired, point, and the lever A turned over to the left until the claw 1 grapples or clutches the chain, as shown in Fig. 3. The lever is then forced down until it occupies the position as shown in Fig. 4. It will thus be observed that the slack in the chain is thus taken up, and the weight of the free end of the lever after it has passed a given point keeps it in its locked position.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A device for taking up the slack in chains, consisting of a lever having a downwardly and outwardly extending claw at one end and provided near said end with downwardly and laterally extending arms rigidlysecured thereon, a clevis loosely secured to said arms, and a claw-hook secured to the clevis, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

' 2. The combination of a binding-chain and means for taking up the slack thereof, consisting of a lever having a downwardly and outwardly extending claw at one end and provided near said end with downwardly and laterally extending arms rigidlysecured thereon, a clevis loosely secured to said arms, and a claw-hook secured to said clevis, the opposite end of said lever being provided with a guard to hold the same in the line of draft, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 12th day of September, 1890.

JOSEPH H. JOHNSON.

In presence of H. H. NORTH,

N. DE WOLF. 

